Alright… let me ask you something.
Have you ever looked at a ride and thought:
“Yeah… that feels a little out of my league… but also kinda exciting?”
That’s exactly what the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic is for most people.
It’s not a casual ride.
It’s not something you accidentally sign up for.
It’s one of those rides you think about first…
then talk yourself into.
And honestly?
That’s usually a good sign.
Let me tell you what this ride actually feels like
You start early.
You’re a little nervous. Everyone is.
You roll out with a bunch of people you don’t know… and within a few miles, it doesn’t feel like that anymore.
You settle into a pace.
You find your people.
You hit moments where you feel really strong… and moments where you don’t.
And then somewhere in there… you stop overthinking it.
You just ride.
And when you finish?
It hits different than you expect.
“When I crossed the finish line for the first time… I didn’t expect the flood of emotion. I cried.” — Anita Elder
I always tell people… that’s not about the distance.
That’s about what happens when you prove something to yourself.
Now let’s be real for a second… should YOU do this ride?
I’m not going to hype this up just to hype it.
Some people shouldn’t do this ride.
But if you’ve ever:
- done a century and thought “what’s next?”
- wanted to try a multi-day ride but didn’t want to deal with full travel logistics
- been curious what it feels like to push a little further
…then yeah. This is probably for you.
If you’re not training at all?
Or you hate long days on the bike?
This might not be your move right now.
And that’s okay.
Here’s where people mess this ride up
Most people go into this thinking:
“It’s just a long ride.”
It’s not.
First—quick thing a lot of people don’t even realize:
👉 You can ride the full 206 miles in one day
👉 Or split it into two days (which most people do)
And that decision alone changes your entire experience.
If you go one day:
- it’s a big endurance push
- pacing and fueling have to be dialed
- mentally… you’re in it for the long haul
If you go two days:
- it’s still hard
- but it’s more manageable
- day 2 is where things get real
And this is where people mess it up.
They treat it like:
“Day 1, survive. Day 2, I’ll figure it out.”
Nope.
Day 2 is where:
- your legs remind you what you did yesterday
- your pacing decisions show up
- your fueling either worked… or didn’t
And then you hit moments like this:
“The Lewis and Clark Bridge feels like a giant looming over the landscape… but you’ll tame that beast.”
— Sal Ponce
That climb doesn’t care how confident you felt on day 1.
But if you pace it right?
You get to the top… look out… and realize you’re actually doing this.
That’s the moment.
Also… who you ride with matters more than you think
I’ve seen people have completely different experiences on the same ride.
Why?
Pace.
Energy.
Vibe.
“Ride with people who ride the same way you do… you’ll find them out there.” — Wenmei Hill
You don’t have to show up with your perfect group.
You’ll find them on the ride.
That’s part of the experience.
And this is why people keep coming back
It’s not just the miles.
It’s not just the challenge.
“There’s something about the community… it really has to be experienced.” — Deej Thompson
That’s the best way to describe it.
People check it off their list…
And then sign up again.
I asked the event organizers something…
Because I didn’t just want to give you my take.
I wanted to know what they see—year after year—from thousands of riders showing up for the first time.
So I asked:
What’s the thing people don’t expect… but ends up being the highlight?
And what actually makes this ride different?
Here’s what I got back from Paul Tolmé with Cascade Bicycle Club:
“Everyone who rides STP for the first time comments about how welcoming, supportive, and friendly it is compared to other events they’ve done. We really strive to make STP doable and welcoming for anyone willing to put in the time to train.”
And that stood out to me.
Because a lot of rides say they’re “for everyone”…
but don’t always feel that way.
This one does.
He also said something I think a lot of people need to hear:
“Because it’s a ride—not a race—there’s no need to rush at rest stops.”
That changes the whole vibe.
You’re not chasing a podium.
You’re actually experiencing the ride.
And this part… I loved:
“People always say they come away from STP with new friends.”
That lines up with everything you’ve already heard.
You don’t just show up and ride your own ride…
You end up being part of something.
And one of the early moments riders don’t expect?
Rolling through Seattle in the pre-dawn light while the city is still asleep…
then crossing the University Bridge and catching those views as the day starts.
That’s how your ride begins.
Not rushed.
Not chaotic.
Just you… your bike… and a city waking up around you.
That’s a pretty good way to start something like this.
Here’s why I think this ride matters (especially if you want to travel)
Most people see this as a bucket list ride.
I see it differently.
I see it as a stepping stone.
This is the kind of ride that teaches you:
- how to handle back-to-back days
- how to ride with different people
- how to manage your energy
And once you’ve done that?
Rides in:
- Italy
- Japan
- Spain
…don’t feel so intimidating anymore.
You’ve already done something hard.
Alright… let’s talk about the giveaway
We’re giving away:
👉 1 free registration to the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (July 11–12, 2026)
It’s run by Cascade Bicycle Club
Value is around $275.
Giveaway Dates
- Runs from May 1st to May 31st
- Winner announced on June 1st
How you enter (keeping it simple)
- You can enter for free here: https://cycle-travel-club.kit.com/monthlygiveaway
- If you’re a Cycle Travel Club member:
No purchase necessary. Everyone has equal odds per entry.
But here’s the part I want you to really understand
You can just enter for free.
Totally fine.
But…
Subscribers enter once.
Members never miss a month.
And if you’re a member and you don’t win this month?
Your entries don’t disappear.
They roll over.
So now you’re not just hoping to get lucky one time…
You’re stacking chances over time.
That’s a very different game.
If you’re thinking about signing up anyway… read this
Registration is now open.
👉 https://cascade.org/rides-events/seattle-portland-2026
And pricing goes up June 1st.
If you wait until late?
You’re looking at around:
- $310 (member)
- $355 (non-member)
So if this ride is even in the “maybe” category…
Don’t ignore it too long.
So… what are you going to do?
You can:
- read about it
- think about it
- wait another year
Or…
You can put yourself in it.
That’s why I like doing these giveaways.
Sometimes you don’t need more time.
You just need a reason to say yes.
If you want in (beyond just this ride)
That’s what Cycle Travel Club is for.
- you’re automatically entered every month
- you start seeing what’s possible
- you start actually planning rides
Start with Basic.
Go VIP if you want to increase your odds.
Most people join for the giveaway.
They stay because something shifts.
Final thought
You don’t remember the easy rides.
You remember the ones that challenged you a little…
…and gave something back.
This feels like one of those.
Let’s see what happens.
